UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Ralph Sampson, 1983 UVa Graduate and Hall of Fame basketball player

“Well, I mean, I don’t think most athletes, I don’t care what level you are, to make it you got to go in there and make sure you got your academics right to play. So people said I couldn’t go to UVa and graduate, cause maybe I come from a small town, etc. Howard Cosell said some things like that once in an interview.

“But I was focused on my academics when I got there, I set it up pretty well, and I have a great work ethic no matter what it was. So I was prepared by my high school, Harrisonburg High School, and my teachers there to do what I needed to do at the University of Virginia and graduate on time.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Ralph Sampson, 1983 UVa Graduate and Hall of Fame basketball player

“Well, I mean, I don’t think most athletes, I don’t care what level you are, to make it you got to go in there and make sure you got your academics right to play. So people said I couldn’t go to UVa and graduate, cause maybe I come from a small town, etc. Howard Cosell said some things like that once in an interview.

“But I was focused on my academics when I got there, I set it up pretty well, and I have a great work ethic no matter what it was. So I was prepared by my high school, Harrisonburg High School, and my teachers there to do what I needed to do at the University of Virginia and graduate on time.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Mary Hughes, University Landscape Architect

“I totally cherish the memory of being able to be on the Lawn, being in the Rotunda, and sort of participating on a daily basis in the life of the Lawn.

“In the early years when I worked here, there were students who would sing down in the cryptoporticus because there’s really wonderful acoustics down there. And so, some of the acapella singing groups would come and sing down there.

“Students would even bring — this really dates me — but their boombox and sing. So I have these kind of cherished memories of that music welling up in that space and reinforcing what a special place that was to work.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Mary Hughes, University Landscape Architect

“I totally cherish the memory of being able to be on the Lawn, being in the Rotunda, and sort of participating on a daily basis in the life of the Lawn.

“In the early years when I worked here, there were students who would sing down in the cryptoporticus because there’s really wonderful acoustics down there. And so, some of the acapella singing groups would come and sing down there.

“Students would even bring — this really dates me — but their boombox and sing. So I have these kind of cherished memories of that music welling up in that space and reinforcing what a special place that was to work.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Marga Odahowski, Former Director of Studies for the International Residential College, and Assistant Director of Health Promotion

Odahowski: “When I got here, they said there’s this ritual that you’re supposed to drink a fifth of alcohol before the last home game.

“I worked for Health Promotion for ten years and I started the 4th Year 5K Run.”

Interviewer: “So rather than drinking a 5th of alcohol?”

Odahowski: “You run.”

Interviewer: “A 5K?”

“Yeah. It’s funny how tradition is so important, right? And I did hear students talk about, like, ‘Well, I do want to drink the fifth because it’s a tradition, but I’m going to spread it out over, like, 4 days.’

“So I wanted to start a new tradition, or at least an alternative tradition.

“First year it was 60 students and who knows what it is now — thousands do the 4th Year 5K. It’s like a big thing. Hopefully more people are running than drinking these days.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Marga Odahowski, Former Director of Studies for the International Residential College, and Assistant Director of Health Promotion

Odahowski: “When I got here, they said there’s this ritual that you’re supposed to drink a fifth of alcohol before the last home game.

“I worked for Health Promotion for ten years and I started the 4th Year 5K Run.”

Interviewer: “So rather than drinking a 5th of alcohol?”

Odahowski: “You run.”

Interviewer: “A 5K?”

“Yeah. It’s funny how tradition is so important, right? And I did hear students talk about, like, ‘Well, I do want to drink the fifth because it’s a tradition, but I’m going to spread it out over, like, 4 days.’

“So I wanted to start a new tradition, or at least an alternative tradition.

“First year it was 60 students and who knows what it is now — thousands do the 4th Year 5K. It’s like a big thing. Hopefully more people are running than drinking these days.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Marga Odahowski, Former Director of Studies for the International Residential College, and Assistant Director of Health Promotion

“My students would have their little backpacks with their energy bar in the back, and then the local Nicaraguan people would just pull a banana off a tree or take some of the sugarcane, and that was their snack.

“I did that role (Director of Studies for the International Residential College) for 14 years, which was amazing.

“We would have an academic course for the spring break term and travel to different countries.

“Nicaragua was interesting. Every day we would get up and we’d go out to the fields and we would be cutting sugarcane or something. And you know, we all had local food and cooked our meals together. It was sweaty and we were dirty and happy. It was fun.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Marga Odahowski, Former Director of Studies for the International Residential College, and Assistant Director of Health Promotion

“My students would have their little backpacks with their energy bar in the back, and then the local Nicaraguan people would just pull a banana off a tree or take some of the sugarcane, and that was their snack.

“I did that role (Director of Studies for the International Residential College) for 14 years, which was amazing.

“We would have an academic course for the spring break term and travel to different countries.

“Nicaragua was interesting. Every day we would get up and we’d go out to the fields and we would be cutting sugarcane or something. And you know, we all had local food and cooked our meals together. It was sweaty and we were dirty and happy. It was fun.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Risa Goluboff, Dean and Professor, UVa Law School

“Over the past 16 years, my husband and I have co-taught a seminar in ethical values. We’re meeting with, you know, twelve third-year students who are about to go out into the world and talking through a lot of hard things in our home.

“The first time we taught it, I was pregnant. The second class, we were bouncing our daughter in our arms. The third class, she was screaming in the monitor — the baby monitor. And now, you know, our kids will sit and chat with the students while they eat and then they’ll go up to their rooms, you know.

“So watching my kids grow up and watching the conversation change as we get more experience and as our students change — sixteen years later, many more of the moms work than they did when we first started. And you know, so they’re different, we’re different and I think it really adds a lot of value and I really enjoy that, so that’s really nice.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Risa Goluboff, Dean and Professor, UVa Law School

“Over the past 16 years, my husband and I have co-taught a seminar in ethical values. We’re meeting with, you know, twelve third-year students who are about to go out into the world and talking through a lot of hard things in our home.

“The first time we taught it, I was pregnant. The second class, we were bouncing our daughter in our arms. The third class, she was screaming in the monitor — the baby monitor. And now, you know, our kids will sit and chat with the students while they eat and then they’ll go up to their rooms, you know.

“So watching my kids grow up and watching the conversation change as we get more experience and as our students change — sixteen years later, many more of the moms work than they did when we first started. And you know, so they’re different, we’re different and I think it really adds a lot of value and I really enjoy that, so that’s really nice.”

For more: www.uvastories.org